Imbolc (Feb 2nd)

Imbolc

Imbolc is the second of the Greater Sabbats in the witches wheel of the year. Imbolc is an Irish Gaelic word which is pronounced im’-molk. Other variations of this festival’s name include the Gaelic Imbolg and the English Candalmas. Imbolc celebrates the official end of the “dead time”, the period from October 31 to February 2 during which witches perform very little magick. This dead time coincided with the “death” of the sun, the light of day, and subsequently all perennial plant life. Pagan folk could see that the day light hours were visibly longer at Imbolc and country folk and witches alike celebrated this turn in events as one of awakening for the earth’s energies. Along with this extended daylight came the promise of spring and the renewal of life. Imbolc is a celebration of the first stirrings of the earth.

The ancient Celts favoured Brigid, the triple Goddess of wells and springs, as the patroness of Imbolc. Devotees of Brigid believed she could bring fertilitie, and they lit candals in her honour to mark the growth of light and the coming change of seasons. So popular was Brigids worship that she is still the patron deity of contemporary Druid circles. ‘St Bridget’ is the Christianized version of the Irish fire Goddess, whose immese popularity could not be eradicated by Christianity. Brigid’s role as fierce protector of woman, children and newborn animals is reflected in Christian mythology, where St Bridget is the midwife to Mary. In Wicca she is midwife to the spring, the divine woman who breathes her fiery breath upon the earth to awaken it> Her role extends to enabling new projects – many of us plant seeds and bulbs at this time to represent areas in our lives that we wish to nurture and grow.

Imbolc is also an important time for you to get in touch with whatever nourishes your soul. Have you left your interest in art or music behind so that you can focus seriously on your real work, your career, monetary gain, or daily routine? What nourishing intersts have you abandoned – no mater what they are – simply because you cannot seem to find the time for them? It’s time to awaken to your whole self. Feed yourself with the nourishment of enjoyment. You are not complete when you repress your talents, your interests, your sense of fun and curiosity. Imbolc is a time to return to simple pleasures, good food, good sex, good friendships, and whatever nurtures your tender soul. These are what quicken the flame at candalmas, and what stir the seeds of full potential within you.

Winter Solstice/Yule

Hello my friends,

 

Well winter is upon us!! All this snow sure does look beautiful but my goodness stop now please!! Usually when people moan and groan about this weather, my response is normally ‘deal with it’, but I must confess this is the worst snow I’ve ever seen. Last week I had a nasty fright while driving home from Perth, not only did the journey take me 6 hours when it usually only takes 40 minutes my car did a 360! Luckily nothing hit me but it really shook me up and I haven’t ventured out since.

 

Anyway let me talk about winter solstice; This sabbat represents rebirth of light. Here on the longest night (Dec 21^st) of the year, the Goddess gives birth to the sun God and hope for a new light to be born.

Yule is a time of awakening to new goals and leaving old regrets behind. Yule coincides closely with the Christian celebration Christmas, the major holidays of this month tend to become the focus of many peoples lives pagan and Christian alike. Some of us become so busy and stressed that we forget to take time to relax and reflect upon our lives. We can use this season of celebration not only to acknowledge the light, but the darkness as well.

Even though the light is returning with the winter solstice, it can be difficult to notice because it is such a slow process. This is a good opportunity for contemplation and meditation (if you’re into meditation that is, meditation is something I’ve never got into, basically because I can’t sit still long enough!), it is also a good time for some serious soul searching.

People in many cultures are taught early on that light is good and dark is bad. But eventually we realise that this view is too limited; light and dark symbolise balance and both are necessary. They are not good or bad, just different – and complementary. There is wonder and beauty to be found in darkness, such as the beauty of the nights sky. The symbolic dangers arise from our own subconscious and instructions to be wary of danger: don’t venture into a dark cave because you cant see and could fall. But we must not forget the journey into our own personal darkness, the mysterious and sometimes unknown aspects of ourselves, but we learn from facing our fears. This necessary journey of the darkness, the depth and mysteries of the soul is both revealing and rewarding.

 

No matter what your belief system is at this time of year, the one common denominator is it is a time for family and friends. It is the season of goodwill, try remembering those less fortunate than yourself. I always think of the homeless at this time of the year there is a really good charity called shelter that does a great job, they’re a non profit organization, with the country in the mess it is in so many people are losing their homes, you never know what’s around the corner! So dig deep people.

 

Have a great Yuletide/Christmas, have fun and stay safe and I’ll see you in 2011.

Link to shelter

http://www.shelter-donations.org.uk/charities/shelter

Samhain (sorry its late)

Hello All,

First and foremost a massive apology for this blogg being almost a week after the sabbat!! I have been going through some major changes, and that has taken up most of my time.

I can't believe we are at the summers end (that's literately what samhain {pronounced SOW-in} means). This summer was a complete wash out!!! and I have a funny feeling we are in for another harsh winter, my dog Tia is in full blown moult and the berries have arrived too early again!. I can safely say at this time of year my mood and my 'get up and go' seriously goes rapidly down hill and this year is no different in fact I am sure it gets worse year after year. Waking up and it's dark, coming home from work it's dark, it really dampens my spirit and I'm sure i am not alone. Not one to sit and take it I have been looking at essential oils, herbs and natural ways to help me combat my winter woes and here is what i've come up with:

Low levels of serotonin might also contribute to the winter blues. Serotonin is a feel-good brain chemical that has antidepressant, anti-anxiety, and anti-craving properties. It is speculated that sufferers have low serotonin levels during the winter months. Although more research is needed, increasing the brain level of serotonin has been shown to improve winter blues’ symptoms

Beat the blues

There are natural approaches that can provide substantial relief in a relatively short period of time.

Turn up the light
Try to get as much bright light as possible, particularly in the morning. I bought the Philips lamp which is aimed at people like me who suffer the Blues!! I have found this little piece of equipment to be a God(dess) send, the light comes on half an hour before your alarm does, it replicates the sun light shinning in your window. It has really helped me get out of bed in the morning. It's not expensive either. You will find them in Argos.

There are also sun lamps you can get if you suffer from SAD you can get them through your GP, It generally takes from two days to a week to notice a great improvement. It is best to use these devices in the morning, as this has the added bonus of resetting the circadian rhythm and stopping daytime melatonin secretion.

Get outside
Hibernation may be tempting, but get outdoors to take advantage of any natural light that Mother Nature offers. Remember to warm up properly before exercising. Tight muscles are more susceptible to injury in the cold.

Layer your clothing so the innermost layer wicks moisture away from your body while the outer layer provides a wind- and water-repellant barrier. Don’t remove your clothes immediately upon returning indoors. Allow your body time to adjust to the warmer temperature to avoid post-exercise hypothermia.

If exercising outdoors in the winter chill is unappealing, walk at a shopping centre, climb stairs, join a gym, swim at an indoor pool, skate at an arena, or sign up for one of the many fitness programs offered by your local community centre.

Increasing the serotonin levels seem's to be one of the major contributing factors when it comes to beating the winter woes, but how do we do this, I am about to explain,,,,,

Foods rich in complex carbohydrates such as whole grains, including rice, oats, corn, millet and buckwheat help sustain and boost serotonin levels, and thus a sense of well being and calm and increased concentration, confidence and relaxation. Other foods that boost serotonin levels include fresh vegetables, especially root crops, squash and fresh fruits. Apples are noted for bringing oxygen to the brain and being rich in complex carbohydrates and B vitamins, critical nutrients for balanced serotonin levels. Serotonin-boosting snacks include popcorn, tortilla & corn chips, and natural sweeteners like maple syrup, honey and rice syrup. Chocolate beans contain PEA, called the molecule of love. Chocolate stimulates the central nervous system and acts like a natural antidepressant.

Herbs that help boost serotonin levels include oatstraw, which is loaded with B vitamins, and the roots of angelica, burdock, dandelion, ginseng, wild yam and black cohosh. Cannabis, significantly raises serotonin levels. But I would not recommend using cannabis as that will just lead to a whole lot of other problems that last a lot longer than the winter months!!!!!!

Activities that enhance serotonin levels include gentle yoga or tai chi, walking, stretching, being in nature, sunshine, clear skies, mild wind, prayer and meditation. Rain and dark wintry weather cause a decline in serotonin levels. Talking with a compassionate person or writing to oneself in a journal is very healing and boosts immunity as well as serotonin levels.

Aromatherapy can do wondrous things to energize, calm, or help beat the winter blues. Essential oils stimulate the sense of smell and can stimulate our memories, emotions, and instincts. The aromas can affect our entire being and psyche. However, it is not a substitute for proper medical care and should not be used as such. It can, however, be a complement to traditional medicine as well as being used in a non-medical way.

One of the most common herbs used by people with mild depression or winter blues is Lavandula angustifolia. It has a calming effect on emotions as well as helping to bring clarity of thought. Lavender essential oil is considered to be one of the safest oils used for aromatherapy and can reduce tension, hysteria, and help you sleep (only in low doses! High doses of Lavender acts as a stimulant). You might notice that lavender is used in some children’s bath wash or powder products as a means to help children relax so they, and their parents, can get some rest.

To make your own aromatherapy oil blends, you’ll want to have an unscented lotion or carrier oil as a base, such as olive oil, almond oil, or jojoba oil. Add a few drops of one or two essential oils to the carrier oil. You can also prepare larger quantities by adding a total of five or ten drops of essential oil to one cup of carrier oil. These oils can also be added to shampoo, conditioner, bubble baths, and Epsom salt.

Petitgrain, bergamot, lavender, and lemon are used to help brighten your mood and calm you. Mix together:

25 drops of petitgrain
30 drops of bergamot
20 drops of lavender
25 drops of lemon

This mixture can be stored in a 5 milliliter bottle. Put five to eight drops on a room diffuser, breathe from the bottle, add it to carrier oil, or add it to bath salts. Never use neat on the skin.

Citrus blends like the one above are particularly effective for brightening a person’s moods. Here are a few other blends you may want to try.

* For emotional wellbeing: 2 drops Clary sage, 2 drops Frankincense, and 1 drop Sandalwood. Blend this with one tablespoon almond oil and use it for a relaxing massage.

* To beat the winter blues: 4 drops Bergamot, 4 drops Lemon, and 2 drops Ylang-ylang. Can be added directly to bath water or mixed with unscented bubble bath.

These aromatherapy oil blends may not bring people with severe depression out of it, but they can do wonders for those who are mildly depressed or simply have the blues. Give them a try; you may have found an easy method for brightening your mood during the long and cold winter months.

I am sorry I haven't spoken much about Samhain, but I feel since it has passed there is no point going on about it, my blogg from last year will have plenty of information and I will make sure that 2011s blogg will be out of this world!! What I will say is this on Sunday 31 October I did a fire walk, and it has really empowered me!! I know that sounds all cheesy but it really does one good to invoke the fire element within!! It gives you drive, passion, energy and to walk over something as powerful as fire, really make you sit up and think 'I could achieve anything'. I had a lot of important big decisions to make and after doing this fire walk it really made things a lot more obvious and clear, I was getting myself all in a muddle over the stupid things and burying my head in the sand about the big things!!. My big decision was whether or not to close the shop in Dunkeld, after Wendy left I have found it increasingly difficult to juggle family, work and 'me' time (I am not blaming Wendy at all for me having to make these decisions, she has here own life and she did what was right for her, I would have did the exact same in her shoes!). I have chosen to close the shop, half of me is gutted it didn't work another half is revealed. I have decided to have a workshop and concentrate whole heatedly on making my beloved lotions and potions, while having a shop I had to wait on customers coming through the door, and I couldn't create as much as i would have liked as I had to man the shop and I could afford to pay someone!! Having this work shop means I can go out and find customers, I have a massive trade fair in January!!! and the pamper parties will be back in operations soon . I am changing the look of Highland Essence so watch this space as it is only the beginning.

Bright Blessings

Savannah aka the organic witch

Mabon the Autumn equinox

Hi All,

Well, Mabon is here again it has now been a year since I started this blog! It has went in very quickly, This time last year I had started a college course doing complementary therapies and on Friday (24th) I have my graduation ceremony. My overall grade was a B+ I couldn't believe it!!.

I am always looking for new challenges and I always want to learn new skills, so this mabon I have decided to study the origins of the Tree Ogham (pronounced OH-AM). The Oghams alphabet and system of divination was created around the 6th Century and has been used by many different Celtic cultures. It is named after the Irish-Celtic deity Ogma, a God of learning. The system was used mainly by the Celts and in the beginning the symbols were not seen as an alphabet but as a way of communicating non verbally, usually carved into door posts, trees and stones as a system of letting others know pieces of information and knowledge.

At the peak of their use the symbols were carved into wooden wands called staves and were read up and down, left to right. To be knowledgeable in the language of Oghams was, and still is, to be at one with the language of the trees, and their associations. To help me learn and connect with this ancient language I have been going out on long walks in the woods and trying to learn my trees, Sounds simple?? but there are 100s of different species of trees, being out in the woods gives me a great sense of peace and oneness with nature, I believe the reason for this is that we have entered the interconnecting energy feilds of the trees. Each tree has its own energy and will give you its own insights and healing ability, and let me tell you every tree has it's on unique way to heal. For instance take the birch tree - which also happens to be the first of the trees in the ogham- The birch is the first tree to colonize new ground, dropping its leaves and twigs to enrich the soil for other trees to follow. It is thus a tree of great life-giving properties, vitality and nourishment. The birch always means a new beginning, A new opportunity, a new journey, physical or spiritual. I took a fallen branch of birch home, sanded it down and carved out the ogham symbol relevant to it. That's as far as I have got with my studies I have 24 more trees and symbols to study.

Anyhow back to Mabon (sorry guys I went of on one their) this is when day and night become equal and from now on the nights grow long and the sun loses its power. Mornings are now chilly, the leaves turn golden brown and red and they begin to fall, plants start to die, so we have it the year has started to wind down. This is the time we contemplate the last 6 months, have you achieved all you set out to do? It's time to give thanks for all you have been blessed with, in days gone by it would be time to give thanks for the bounty the earth has given you, and what better way to celebrate than to feast and be merry. So get your friends round for that last BBQ and drink before it's too cold!! At this harvest festival it is time to give to those less privileged, so give to charity or even just help a friend in need.

The fruit of this time of year is the apple and shops are stocked full with this seasons apples. They are anti-viral and will readily keep away colds if you eat them daily, they are helpful at lowering your cholesterol and reducing blood pressure; they have pectin which can bind toxic metals and remove them from your body whilst their tannin acid fights the herpes virus. Not only that, they regulate stomach acidity and help digest fat and protein, and the biggest bonus of all they suppress your appetite which makes them perfect for dieting. Now I know where the old fish-wives tale comes from 'an apple a day keeps the doctor away!'. Also if you cut an apple in half it shows you the 5 pointed star the pentagram, so decorate your altar in autumn leaves and apples!!

Spell for Mabon: As mabon is when night and day are equal, meaning they are balanced I thought a spell to bring back balance into ones life would be perfect, so I have come across this one.

A candle spell to recover optimism after a series of setbacks!

this spell works very well at any time you have lost all hope or are overwhelmed by loss, a run of bad luck or problems such as debt.

You will need:

* A small dark-coloured candle in a holder

* A pure white candle that will burn through the night (When I perfoem spells that ask me to burn the candle until it is finished I place it on a plate and put it in the bath, that way I dont need to worry if it is knocked over)

* Wite taper candle (optional)

TIMING: just before dusk on a satuarday (the day of saturn and limitations).

THE SPELL:

* place the two candles side by side and light the dark coloured one, as you do say "Darkness go, Light grow, Hope increase, Despair/debt/bad luck cease"

*Sit in the candle glow until all the light has gone from the sky and let the darkness and doubts flow from you

* When it is dark use the taper to light the white candle from the dark one, as you do so saying "Light rise to the skies; So darkness dies, farewell bad fortune, farewell sorrow; Life begins on the morrow.

* Blow out the dark candle and wait for it to cool down. Wrap it in a brown paper bag and throw it away before you go to bed

* Gaze into the white candle and recall happy memories, together with plans and pleasures (however small) that are still possible

* If you wish, add the second white candle to increase the positive energies. Leave your candles in a safe place until morning, when they should be burnt through.

Well my friends until Samhain, Toodles xx

Lughnasadh

Hello There,

Is it just me or is this year just flying in?? I am struggling to keep up with it. We are now into the sabbat of Lughnasadh (pronounced LOO-nas-ah) also known as Lammas, which a few Scots that aren't pagan/wiccan will probably recognise as up her there are a good few Lammas celebrations. The Lammas market in St Andrews probably being the biggest, I bet half you lot that go to it never thought it was derived from a pagan sabbat, well you learn something knew every day!

Ok so what is Lughnasadh? Well it is the first harvest festival of the year. In times gone by the harvest would have been central to everyone's lives, and all members of the community would have turned out to help cut the fields and see their bounty brought in. In today's modern society the majority of us are so far removed from the harvest, and it can often pass by without us even being aware of it - The generation of fast food, convenience stores and everything being at hand no matter what time of year it is has made sure of this - Sabbats such as Lughnasadh are a way for pagan to keep in touch with the cycle of the seasons.

As Lughnasadh is the Festival of the First Fruits of the Harvest. A portion of the first grains, fruits and vegetables to come ripe was offered back to the God & Goddess to say “Thank You”. At the same time, the first wild sweet berries in the hills were ripening – a gift back to us from the Earth Mother. Entire villages would rise at dawn on Lughnasadh and go berry picking. While they were at it, they’d also have big communal picnics, play games and tell stories. So berries have been a part of Lughnasadh festivities since very ancient times!

Easy Raspberry Trifle

Trifle is an old, traditional dessert from England. It’s usually served from a tall glass bowl so that the lovely layers and colors can be admired. This is a simple version that you can make your self...

INGREDIENTS:

1 Pound Cake loaf (if frozen, be sure to thaw it first)
1 package (10 ounces) raspberries in syrup (if frozen, thaw these too)
Raspberry preserves
1 package (4 serving size) vanilla pudding, prepared
Sweetened whipped cream

PREPARATION:

Split the cake in half lengthwise and sandwich together with lots of nice raspberry preserves. Slice into 8 slices as you would slice bread. Arrange ½ the slices in a large pretty glass bowl.

With a spoon, glob ½ the pudding over the slices and use the back of the spoon to spread it out.

Drain raspberry syrup into a cup and scatter half the berries over the pudding. Add the rest of the cake slices, cover with the rest of the pudding and the rest of the berries. Drizzle the reserved syrup over the whole thing and top with whipped cream.

Lughnasadh is also referred to as the feast of bread - loaf mas - that's where the name Lammas comes from, Wiccans often hold feasts in honour of the holiday as everything is plentiful, why not try your hand at baking bread and splitting it amongst friends?.

The days of late July and early August are known as “The Dog Days of Summer” – named for the Dog Star, Sirius. Ancient people of various cultures all over the world believed that the Sirius was a special power point in the universe and a “star gate” to other worlds. During the Dog Days, Sirius is up in the sky right next to the sun and the weather is particularly hot – perfect for making a …

Magic Dog Days Candle

Take a long taper candle in a colour that you feel represents You. (Your favorite colour usually works very well) With a bit of melted wax, stick the candle upright in the middle of an aluminum pie pan. Then, surround the candle with a tight circle of 6 more upright tapers. These candles should be in colors you think of when you think of the sun and summer – perhaps white, yellow, orange and red.

Around noon, when the sun and the Sirius are high in the sky, take the aluminum pie pan of candles outside.

Use your magical imagination to see the strength and power of the sun’s rays and the Dog Star pouring into the candles. As the wax warms and softens under the sun’s heat, gently and patiently, bend the candles, wrapping and weaving them around each other and the center candle representing you. If it’s really hot out and some of the wax is melting too fast, use a little water to cool it a bit.

Keep wrapping and bending and visualising until, instead of 7 individual taper candles, you have something that looks like one big, twisty candle. Imagine this candle glowing all over with nuclear (sun) energy and the powers of the Dog Star. Then, clap your hands over it three times and seal the spell with the words: “So Mote It Be!”

Take your Dog Days Candle inside and store it in a cool place.

How to use your Dog Days Candle:

We all have days when we don’t feel very strong. Maybe we’re coming down with a cold or maybe we have to stand up to someone who scares us a little. When you are having a day like this, it’s a good time to take out your “Dog Days Candle” and let it burn a bit. Sit with the candle and, as it burns, imagine the solar star power in it pouring back into you until you are filled with the energy of your Dog Days Spell. Then gently blow out the candle until the next time you need it.

Well until Mabon my friends Blessed Be, )o(

There's change in the air

Summer solstice is nearly here and I am really looking forward to it, all my dreams and spells from mid winter are manifesting and I have had so much more besides. I look at my life and I now realise that I am extremely lucky to have the life I have and it hasnt been without its ups and downs I can tell you, but with perseverance, hard work and sheer determination I can honestly say I am grateful for everything and everyone in my life.

The shop in Dunkeld is now open which is great there are a few changes still needed to be made such as it has over night turned into a gift shop which I never wanted I want the shop to be about natural products herbs and holistic treatments, but that part of the dream some how ended up; up the back of the shop while the gift items ended up at the front. Through no one fault but my own. It is an easy problem to rectify.

Another huge change to Highland Essence is there is now two of us. I am no longer a one man band YIPPEE!! A wonderful woman has come into my life and she goes by the name of Wendy, I have been studying with Wendy for just over a year now and we struck up a friendship through our common interests: psychics, Herbs, Natural products out love of dance music (although I am a rock chick at heart, I do love dancing away to teiesto in a club every now and then). Our friendship was cemented when Wendy came to my rescue the week running up to the launch night of the shop. There where a few hiccups along the way and Wendy was my pillar of strength. She helped me to make up creams etc etc. What has made me join forces with Wendy isn't just the fact we have common interests, no no no, it's the fact Wendy has knowledge way beyond her years you ask her anything on herbs and natural base products and she could rattle off the botanical name and tell you exactly what they're good for, her creams are of a quality that would put estee lauder (I know I've spelt it wrong, but you know what I mean) to shame. Why have someone who lives 10 minutes away who does the same as you go into direct competition, when we could work together. So that's exactly what we did. Wendy and I have joined forces so Highland Essence now has two people behind it, and I am extremely grateful for Wendy coming along when she did.

Anyhoo my chickens what else has been happening I now have 3 baby chicks. We incubated the eggs and 3 hatched it was a magical experience watching these little eggs come alive and crack through and out popped little baby chickens, we have named them: Yolk, omelette & Eggford. I love them they're chirping away behind me while I write this blogg. I also have my Scottish dumpies (a type of rare chicken apparently) outside in the hen house, they were collected today from Inverness, I have a cock and two hens, I'm turning into a real old crone living in the middle of no where surrounded by my animals ha.

Let me talk about summer solstice I love this time of year and I love this sabbat on the witches calendar, don't you think in the summer everyone smiles at you, its time to have friends round for BBQ and drinks, all my fondest memories are of summers past, from playing on a rope swing over a stream when I was a kid, to the beach parties when I was a teenagers and now I enjoy watching the kids run around outside while I sit and chat with my friends over a summer cocktail, there really is nothing better.

June is the month of summer solstice, when the sun is at its strongest. The flower of June is the rose. Symbolic of female beauty, the rose epitomises the gentle, fragrant spirit of summer. The herbs associated with the month of June are eucalyptus and lemon balm. These can be dried or burnt as incense or used in spells. The full moon of June is known as the dryards moon. The dryards are the elemental life force of trees, and each tree has its own guardian dryard. The ancient Celts had a special relationship with these elementals and would invoke their presence in battle. If you have a tree in your garden, make an effort to get to know the dryards. Sit beneath the tree if you can, and just silently acknowledge the presence of the tree element. Spend time with the trees regularly, and eventually the dryards will make themselves known to you. I had the most out of this world experience while sitting under a tree ( I call it my thinking tree as I always go there to think funnily enough) and this time I was sitting there I was troubled but after 10 minutes 3 birds of prey perched 200 yards away from me and just sat with me, I took that to be a message of some kind for a number of reasons 1) I have never seen 3 birds of prey together at anyone time 2) They were looking right at me and they seemed to be at peace in my presence. Nut job I can hear you all saying but that experience was extremly spiritual for me. Anyway back to summer solstice; this time of year is also known as Litha. At this time of year decorate your altar with objects that bear the sun's image - candle holders, lanterns and oil burners. Place a deep yellow or gold cloth over your altar surface and add lots of gold candles. Vases of buttercups and sunflowers look fabulous on a Litha altar as do citrine and amber crystals. Add yellow and gold ribbons, and maybe a daisy chain around the edge.

At Litha, witches also honour the glorious abundance of Mother Earth. Celebrate outdoors in the sun (In Scotland that can sometimes be a little difficult) you can include faery magick, BBQ and perhaps a visit to a sacred site such as a stone circle. Burn this months herbs and oils, decorate trees and local wells with flower garlands and ribbon while making a magical wish. Sing, dance and feast on the wonderful summer foods. Enjoy your friends and family.

Until next time my friends, toodle pip xxx

I am writing this from a hotel in London, I have come down here to do a course surround the new legislation on making your own creams. I have to say I found it very informative, the new laws surrounding what you can and cant claim a cream can do for the consumer is getting really tough and they are finally clamping down on all these multi million pound industries; that falsely advertise. About bloody time! Soon there will be no more claims that if you use this cream, lotion or potion in 10 days you will look 20 years younger. The companies now have to prove their claims by having an independent body come in and investigate by doing extensive clinical trials! The changes have already started, An example of this would be the L'Oreal advert with Cheryl Cole, at the bottom of the screen it says Cheryl is wearing natural hair extension! Albeit the writing is teeny tiny, it's still there.

I have always believed that Londoners were ignorant people who would barge right past you and not even taking the time to apologise for it. I have to say I was wrong very wrong so I would like to make my own apology to any Londoner who may come across this blog! I will never pre-judge again; What has change my perception on the people of the big smoke I hear you ask? Well it is this. On the train coming down here, I was a little apprehensive of what would be waiting for me at Kings X, I had images in my head of dodgy looking characters on the prowl waiting to jump on a unsuspecting victim like myself (not that I'm dramatic or anything ha ha), anyhoo, there was a lady on the train who I started talking with. I reckon she sensed my tension and she offered to show me were to get a taxi to my travel lodge. What a really kind lady I thought to myself, but it doesn't stop there, she got in the same taxi as me to make sure I got to my destination OK, it is the one of the nicest things any ones ever done for me, just a random act of kindness from a stranger, it restores your faith in mankind and it always seems to happen when you have almost lost all faith in the society we live in. The taxi driver also gave me a little tour of London (I don't know if it was the route or not, but I'd like to think it was just another act of kindness), she showed me the palace and she gave me lots of information about streets and buildings, for example did you know that the street running up to Buckingham palace is also the Queens private runway!, the bollards can be removed from the side of the road, so if the queen needs a quick exit, the road turns into runway, how cool is that!! Even though now the Queen will probably travel by helicopter. 

Due to the random acts of kindness I have encountered in a City I had down as cold and unfriendly, I myself feel that I must now restore others faith in mankind by offering a random act of kindness. I will let you all know how I got on and what I did. Maybe I will offer hugs to all who knows. 

A big thank you to Maria and the informative taxi driver.